✊🏼 Have the Courage to be disliked, and stand up for what you believe in

 

My management coach once shared some powerful advice as a "heads up":

“Throughout your career, you will find people around you who will disappoint you, and continue to disappoint or oppose you. You will not have 100% bosses supporting you - some of them might not even like your guts.

And that’s okay.
You are not here to build a fan club. You are not here to please everyone.

Stand up for who you are. As long as your intentions are clear, you know it’s value adding, and you are doing the right thing, continue doing what you do.“

Amazing & timely advice! We are not here to be people pleasers. Don’t just be a yes-man, copy-paste what others do and blindly conform. Have the spine to determine what is right from wrong, and stand up for your own principles and values.

This immediately reminds me of something said by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

لاَ تَكُونُوا إِمَّعَةً تَقُولُونَ إِنْ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسُ أَحْسَنَّا وَإِنْ ظَلَمُوا ظَلَمْنَا وَلَكِنْ وَطِّنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنْ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسُ أَنْ تُحْسِنُوا وَإِنْ أَسَاءُوا فَلاَ تَظْلِمُوا

“Do not be a “yes-man” imitator, without a will of your own. Just like those who say “if people behave well, then we too, will behave well. And if they oppress, we too will (follow the flow, and) oppress others.”
Rather, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good, but if they commit sins, you refrain from committing oppression”
(At-Tirmidzi #2007)

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

طوبى لِلغُرباءِ، فقيل: مَن الغُرباءُ يا رسولَ اللهِ؟ قال: أُناسٌ صالحونَ في أُناسِ سُوءٍ كثيرٍ، مَن يَعصيهم أكثرُ مِمَّن يُطيعُهم.

"Glad tidings for the strangers: A people who rectify (themselves and others), whilst they are amidst (the majority of) people who are involved in much evil! Those who disobey them are greater in number than those who obey them."

(Ahmad, At-Tabarani & Al-Bayhaqi)

In many situations in life, and especially at the workplace, sometimes, being a person of integrity and principles will put us at a disadvantage. Sometimes, it’s much easier to keep quiet and stay in mediocrity, rather than be the one who steps up and attempts to “challenge the norms” and achieve genuine greatness.

People will be people, and there will always be people who prefer what’s convenient, easy, or comfortable. Don’t compromise to fit in, and sink in the quicksand.

Remind ourselves that if we stand up for our religious principles, God Himself will help us:

مَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَاءَ اللَّهِ بِسَخَطِ النَّاسِ كَفَاهُ اللَّهُ مُؤْنَةَ النَّاسِ وَمَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَاءَ النَّاسِ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ

“Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah by incurring the anger of the people, Allah will suffice him from the people.
And who ever seeks the people's pleasure by obtaining the wrath of Allah, Allah will leave him to the people (i.e. without His Help).'"
(At-Tirmidzi)

Be a person of integrity and virtue, and have the courage to be disliked.